Automatic flange system



Jan. 2, 1951 J. J. GOETT 2,536,602

AUTOMATIC FLANGE SYSTEM Filed July 6, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 2, 1951 J J, GOETT 2,536,602

AUTOMATIC FLANGE SYSTEM Filed July 6, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 2, 1951 AUTOMATIC FLANGE SYSTEM soon .1. Goett, Chicago, 111., assi nor .to the Uni-ted States of America as repr s e y the United States Atomic Energy Commission Application July 6, 1944, Serial No. 543,698 9 claims. (01. 285,129)

This invention relates to a device for op n n closing and sealing sections of a pipe line: by remote control.

Joints between sections in a pipe line are often located in positions that are difficult, inconvenient or dangerous to reach by ordinary means. It is advantageous to be. able to couple and uncouple such joints fromoa conveniently removed location bymeans .ofremotecontrol. It is therefore an object of this, invention to provide a device for safely openin closing. and s aling pipe. Jo n s. andiunotions that are phy cally inaccessible Or are so situated as to endan er :the. health or life. of a person attemptin to reach them.

More spec fically. it is on ohleot of the n em lon' o provide a devic for openin closing and sealin pipeioints and. Junctions by remote con- 1'01,

.- Further and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the drawings, in which:

Fig. -1 is elevational view of a junction of pipe sections sealed by the xternal clamps forming thesubject matter of thepresent invention;

s Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the p pe Juncfla ge. the viewng taken onth line 4-4 of i Fig. .5 is an elevational view of the contact member forming part of the amp and engagin the. upper pipe flange, the. View being taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 .is a transverse sectional-view through part, of the clamp andtaken on the line that of Fi 3,;

. .Fieis a transverse sectional view'throueh one .ofthe pipesections and .showine'i plan view the amp illustrated in Fig. the :view beins taken onthe line 1- -:i of Fig 1.; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view corresponding tosFig. ibutshowing-the clamps in open position, the view bein taken oncthe line .-8-.- 8. of Fig.2..

- F stening :meansheretofore employed for join,

ing ecticns of pipe are notsatisfactory for many purposes because the operation.oftighteningzthe joint. must take place at. a location that can be reached byan operator. Secti ns of a pipe io nt generallyare tightened by bolting together flanges on each of the sections with nuts and bolts or by a friction grip obtained by drawing a, bail or simila ,linl; fastened on one section lover a leg on the other section. Where the junction is located at. the. point that. cannot be easily or s ely ached suc i-a nin mechanisms can not be used- My invention avoids the necessity of phys cally reaching the joint to be ti ht n d. wi h ols r by hand. by Pro id ng; axflanso closing system wherein the tighteningmeans is actuated and remo ly controlled y a ydraul c or fluid p os sure system. In general terms. the flange 010.8 ing syst m f my nv n ion omp ses a fla provided with hyd ulic clamp astened to one of the pipe sections. and capable of cl hin a flange on another pipe section when actuated from a remote location.

When a Junction in .a sectional pipe lineis de sired at a point that is inaccessible, inconvenient, or dangerous, theseal against the leakage of the contents of the pipe line between the sections may be accomplished by remotefcontrol using an automaticv clamp mechanism, as shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. l the pipe sections 1 and. 2 have tenminalflanges sands that abut to make ajunction in thev pipeline. This Junction .is sealed by apluraiity oihydrauhc clamps 5 whic architect! to lugs 6 on areas 11 of he owe p pe flange 4. Each of the clamps v5 curve'around the flange surtaces to embrace the two flanges 3 and 4. A piston I8 .(see Fi .3), is prov d n an end chamher 8 at. the free end of each clamp 5. for apply ing a .compresssional force on a top free face '9 of the upper flange 3. Hydraulic pressure for actuating the piston 18 "in chamber 8 is supplied by pipe line it running to the clamp Belong pipe section 2 from. a supply :(not shown), a portion of the pipe line 10 being fiexib'le to permit rotation of the clamps; as will later be described.

In the clamping position the pistons 8 '(Fig. 3-) on clamps 5 aroused toforcethe twopipe flanges; 3 and 6 together. An upper surface 38 of a gasket l1 placed on the inner face of the lower flange-4 and an inner facet-9 Of the flange '3 are abutting faces which are forced together by the action of the pistons 18to provide a tight seal against leakage. Iniorderto permitthepipe sec; tions i-and 2=tobe readily coupled and uncoupled. the hydraulic clamps 5 are hinged on lugs 6 so that they can swing from the clampin position into flange clearingposition, .clearef the flange 3 as shownin Fig-2.

In Fig. 3 is shown in enlarged detail the construction of one of the hydraulic clamps and a part of the junction. The hydraulic clamp 5 has a hinged arm IS, a body l4 and a free arm IS. The arm I3 is hinged to lugs 6 on the pipe flange face 1. Fig. 4 shows a horizontal sectional view of the hinging of clamp 5 to the lugs 6. Shaft I2, thrust through the end of arm l3 and lugs 6 to form a fulcrum member, fastens these members together. Pin springs l6 coiled around each end of the shaft l2 bear against the lugs 6 and arm [3 to provide a spring action for urging the clamp 5 away from the flange 4. The arms 13 and I5 and the body H of the clamp 5 fit around the abutting flanges 3 and 4 so that the free arm [5 overhangs the free surface 9 of flange 3 and the hinged arm l3 underlies flange 4. At the end of arm 15 the cylindrical cham:- ber 8 is backed by a stiffening rib H. The piston l8, actuated by a hydraulic pressure system, projects from the chamber 8 through a wall 19 at the bottom of chamber 8 to bear against the free face '9 of the flange 3. The piston I8 is retained against falling out by a pin 20 that transfixes the piston l8 and slides in a slot 2| in the wall l9 to permit the piston a, limited freedom of movement, axial in direction when the clamp is fully moved inwardly to clamping position. Figure 5 shows the pin 28 in the slot 2! with the piston l8 bearing against the free face 9. To maintain a seal against leakage of fluid from the chamber 8, the piston I8 passes through packing 22 seated against the wall [9 at the bottom of chamber 8 by a spring 23 bearing against a follower 24 on the top of the packing 22.

The piston l8, when in clamping position,

moves in a path perpendicular to the surface 9 against which it bears and axial with respect to the line of the pipe sections l and 2. Hydraulic pressure is supplied to the chamber 8 from a suitablesupply, not shown, through pipe line l0, and feeds into the chamber 8 through an aperture 25 in the side as shown in Fig. 6. The pipe line It! is divided into sections 26 and 21 (Fig. 4) which are joined by a flexible elbow 28 at the h nge between clamp 5 and lug 6. The section 25 extends to the clamp 5 from the supply source and is attached to section 21 through flexible elbow 28. The section 21 makes connection between the elbow 28 and aperture 25 in the wall of chamber 8. The feeding of fluid to the chamber 8 through pipe line in is remotely controlled at a point removed from the junction. Pressure is introduced in the pipe line In from the supply source and is transm tted through sections 25 and 21 to the chamber 8 where it is applied to piston l8 forcing it out and against the free flange face 9. The action of the piston I3 is to move the upper pipe section I in an axial direction toward the lower pipe section 2 which is held relatively stationary. The consequent squeezing action forces the abutting faces 29 and 30 together and provides a tight seal.

Pin springs 16 coiled around pin I 2 and bearin against lugs 6 and arm l3 cause the normal position of the clamps 5 to be open or pivoted away from the flange 4 by an amount suflicient to clear flange 4 when the pipe sections l and 2 are moved apart. 'Whenthe clamps 5 are in the position of their are of travel where they clear flange-3, they may be moved into a clamping po-v sition for engagement with flange 3 by a spider ring assembly 3! that encircles the joint and clamps 5 as shown in Figs. 1, 2, '7 and 8. The

ring assembly 3| is composed of a ring 32 supported by one end of each of a set of spider arms 33. Ring 32 has an internal opening small enough to engage the clamps when in open position and by sliding over them, to force them inwardly until the pistons 18 are axially positioned over free face 9. The other end of each spider arm 33 opposite the rin 32 terminates in a hydraulically actuated ring piston 34. The ring pistons 34 are moved out of hydraulic chambers 35 by hydraulic pressure and retracted into the chambers 35 by the action of springs 4! thereby moving the ring assembly 3| into and out of engagement with the clamps 5. To raise the spider ring assembly 3!, hydraulic pressure is supplied to the chambers 35 through pipe lines 40 from a suitable source of supply. The feeding of the pressure fluid to the chambers 35 is remotely controlled to move the spider ring assembly 3 I. The pipe lines 40 feed into the chambers 35 through bushings 42 at the'bottom ofthe chambers 35. Seals against leakage of fluid from chambers 35 is provided by packings 39 around the pistons 34 and held by springs 3'! bearing against followers 38.

In Figs. 2 and 8 the spider ring assembly 3| is shown lowered and the clamps 5 are in open position. The pipe section I is raised away from the pipe section 2 to show the relative position of coupling and uncoupling. When effecting the junction, the pipe section I is brought against the gasket I l on pipe section 2 so that the faces 29 and 30 abut. The joint is then ready for t ghtening and the spider ring assembly 3!, starting in the lowered position shown in Figs. 2 and 8 and moving to the raised position shown in Figs. 1 and 7 gathers the normally cocked open clamps 5 and moves them to embrace flanges 3 and 4, whereupon the pistons l8 may be forced against the flange 3 to provide the requisite amount of compression to seal the joint against leakage of the contents of the pipe line. The pressure in the chambers 8 may then be locked to hold the joint tightened as long as is desired.

To disassemble the junction and disconnect the pipe sections, the process of coupling is reversed. The pressure on thepistons it! through the pipe lines In is released, and the pistons l8 are freed from the flange 3. Pressure on the pistons 34 in the chambers 35 is then released and the springs 4| draw the ring assembly out of engagement with the clamps 5 and permit the pin springs l6 to act upon the clamps 5 forcing them to swing outwardly into the open posi-- tion shown in Figs. 2 and 8. When the clamps 5 have reassumed the open position shown'in Figs. 2 and 8, the pipe sections l and 2 may be disconnected by relative axial movement.

The manner, as described, of rotating'the clamps to a flange embracing position will suggest various ways by which the closing of the clamps around the flanges may be accomplished. The particular arrangement of clamps shown and described herein has been adopted for convenience. It is realized, of course, that other modifications may be made without departin from the intended scope of the invention. I

I claim:

1. In combination, a pair of pipe sections; terminal flanges on said pipe sections having abutting faces and opposite free faces, a'plurality of clamps each hinged at one end to one of said flanges and shaped to place the free end of said clamp over the free face of the other of said flanges in one hinged position and to place :in theifeelend of each of sai the free iidbi' saidtfimp other of saidiilanges in another hinged; position, amiston clamp over the free face of the other of said flanges in one hinged position and to place the free end of said clamp clear of the other of said flanges in another hinged position, a piston in the free end of each of said clamps and moveable with respect to said clamps to force 'said flanges into abutting relationship, a hydraulically actuated means for operating said pistons, and means operable from a remote location for controlling the movement of said clamps from one hinged position to the other.

3. In combination, a pair of pipe sections, terminal flanges on said pipe sections having abutting faces and opposite free faces, a plurality of clamps each hinged at one end to one of said flanges and shaped to place the free end of said clamp over the free face of the other of said flanges in one hinged position and to place the free end of said clamp clear of the other of said flanges in another hinged position, a piston in the free end of each of said clamps and movable by hydraulic pressure with respect to said clamps to force said flanges into abutting relationship, a' conduit through which the hydraulic pressure is transmitted to said piston running along the hinged pipe section and flexibly connected to said clamps, and means from a remote location for controlling the movement of said clamps from one hinged position to the other.

4. In combination, a pair of pipe sections, terminal flanges on said pipe sections having abutting faces and opposite free faces, a plurality of clamps each hinged at one end to one of said flanges and shaped to place the free end of said clamp over the free face of the other of said flanges in one hinged position and to place the free end of said clamp clear of the other of said flanges in another hinged position, a piston in the free end of each of said clamps and movable with respect to said clamps to force said flanges into abutting relationship, remote control means for operating said pistons, a ring positioned around the pipe section to which pipe section the clamps are hinged and having an internal diameter such as to engage said clamps when moved axially toward said flanges, and means for axially moving said ring to move said clamps from one of said hinged positions to the other.

5. In combination, a pair of pipe sections, terminal flanges on said pipe sections having abutting faces and opposite free faces, a plurality of clamps each hinged at one end to one of said flanges and shaped t place the free end of said clamp over the free face of the other of said flanges in one hinged position and to place the free end of said clamp clear of the other of said flanges in another hinged position, a piston in the free end of each of said clamps and movable with respect to said clamps to force said flanges into abutting relationship, remote control means aroundttic fpip'e; reaction; to-zawhichgrpipe :seetion clamps tare hinged'sgandz having an: vinternal "diameter-suchasgtozengagevsaid: clamps when moved axialln-gtowardtsaid flangesg-spiden rn'is attached at one n d to saidring. the othenends ofi-is'ai'd s pide arms terminating adjacent said latter pipe secti nand actuatingmeans on said latter pipe seetionsuppertin' -the' adjacent ends ofz aidzsnisier arms:wherehyzzse -ri e is move axially to move said clamps ;f,r in ;one;;of-,Said hinged positions to the other.

6. In combination, a pair of pipe sections, terminal flanges on said pipe sections having abutting faces and opposite free faces, a plurality of clamps each hinged at one end to one of said flanges and shaped to place the free end of said clamp over the free face of the other of said flanges in one hinged position and to place the free end of said clamp clear of the other of said flanges in another hinged position, a piston in the free end of each of said clamps and movable with respect to said clamps to force said flanges into abutting relationship, remote control means for operating said pistons, a ring positioned around the pipe section to which pipe section the clamps are hinged and having an internal diameter such as to engage said clamps when moved axially toward said flanges, spider arms attached at one end to said ring and hydraulic actuating means on said pipe section including hydraulic cylinders surrounding the other ends of said spider arms whereby said ring is moved axially by hydraulic pressure exerted on the ends of said spider arms in said hydraulic cylinders, to move said clamps from one of said hinged positions to the other.

7. For use in joining two pipe sections having terminal flanges adapted to abut against each other, a clamping device comprising a movable clamp member, a fulcrum member, means pivotally mounting the movable clamp member on said fulcrum member, the fulcrum member being fixed relative to one of said pipe sections, the clamp member being movable about said fulcrum member from an open position to a clamping position, resilient means normally holding the clamp member in open position, remote control means for moving the clamp member from open position to clamping position including a piston operating by hydraulic pressure, movable means on the clamp member adapted to engage the flange on one of the pipe sections, and remote control means including a hydraulically operated cylinder operating said movable means.

8. For use in joining two pipe sections having terminal flanges adapted to abut against each other, a clamping device comprising a movable clamp member, a fulcrum member, means pivotally mounting the movable clamp member on said fulcrum member, the fulcrum member being fixed relative to one of said pipe sections, the clamp member being movable about said fulcrum member from an open position to a clamping position, resilient means normally holding the clamp member in open position, and remote control means for moving the clamp member some:

tionsyosecond means adapted to engage the UNITED STATES PATENTS- other f said pipe sections, resilient means n0r- Number Nme Date 1 malb' holding the clamp" in open position. and 1.530.651 Corbett Mat 24. 1935 fluid pressure means forcing the clamp into 1,910,703 mm May 23, 1933 clamping position, thereby to force both of said 5 engaging means toward each other. FOREIGN p -rs JOHN Go Number Country Date I REFERENCES CITED I 301,086 Great Britain Oct. 3/1929 5 469.7 s a Brita 30,1931 The following referencesare of record in the 2 Greg July H file of -thls paiventz' 

